Arundel Digest

A Chesapeake Beach man who suffered serious burns July 4 was indicted Friday on charges of burning his car for the insurance money because the 1992 Lexus cost too much to fix.

In a four-count indictment, an Anne Arundel County grand jury accused Cordell T. Holland, 24, of second-degree arson, punishable by up to 20 years in prison, and related charges.

Fire marshals said Holland admitted that he left the car in a field in rural Lothian, doused it with a few gallons of gasoline and set it ablaze for an expected $6,000 in insurance money he hoped to put toward a new car. But Holland burned himself and spent about 10 days in Prince George's Hospital Center, later reporting the car stolen, investigators said. Neither Holland nor his attorney could be reached.

Schools investigating athletes accused of assault

Six football players at North County High School in Glen Burnie were suspended Friday pending a school system investigation into an alleged assault at a football camp last month.

The Anne Arundel County school system received an unsigned letter dated Sept. 12 alleging that an assault took place while the school football teams were at a camp at Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland from Aug. 23 to 25, said schools spokeswoman Jane Beckett-Donohue.

The state police were asked to investigate but are not expected to file criminal charges, Beckett-Donohue said. The school system's investigation is expected to be finished this week. The system will determine then if any further disciplinary action will be taken against the students.

The two junior varsity and four varsity players did not participate in games during the weekend.